Gelato for Weddings

Excitement, love, and happiness are quickly followed by the momentous undertaking of arrangements for "The Big Day". After the holidays concurrent with the peak engagement season have passed, the wedding planning must begin. Thread the bubble of love throughout planning all the way to the guests present on that special Wedding day and share A Scoop of Happiness with them by way of gelato.

 

At a spectacular New England wedding weekend last year featured was a pizza truck slinging individual pies to guests after a backyard welcome party/rehearsal dinner. While this highlighted the evening celebration and ultimately extended festivities well into the morning, noted missing: something sweet was in order as well. Pino Gelato offers gelato carts that would be a major hit in similarly structured pre-wedding events. A gelato cart would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner's more casual fare treating those closest to the couple and/or welcoming guests whom traveled long distances while typically working to set the vibe for the duration of the wedding's activities. The rich, creamy texture and endless flavors of gelato would certainly set the bar high and provide a welcome smile to all. The gelato cart would be a stellar ensemble to stations at any type of wedding, itself being completely customizable. The cart option is completely surreal for any child attendee, yet also the perfect treat to capture the playfulness in guests of any age group. Pino Gelato's cart represents that fun, happy, love filled bubble a couple wishes guests to share in during their wedding.

 

Regardless of the amount of enjoyment or disdain a couple has during varying parts of wedding planning, it is often unimaginable to associate feeling stressed about the dessert. Especially so if the couple has thought beyond just cake.

Gelato can be used as a tool to incorporate wedding colors at dessert time. Often a couple can be swayed toward the current trends. Instead of falling victim to a gimmick or even the impractical (try to endure a make-your-own-vegan-cupcake-bar = mess, not to mention a bevy of ruined formal wear) dessert of the moment, steer secure to the option gelato lends to tradition. Select a custom or favorite flavor scoop of gelato to serve alongside the slice of wedding cake for a tasteful compliment and instant boost from mundane without going overboard. Gelato meets both visual and taste appeal for a simplistic, elegant, and decadent pairing to any wedding cake. Wedding colors can also be carried by gelato spoons or dishes in vast gradients from authentic to the most outlandish and fancy.


Prevent the overload of wedding prep from surpassing in priority to the initial bubble of joy an engagement brings to a couple and their families by creating opportunities for notable elements that incorporate all of the excitement to assure all the wonderful is passed along to those partaking in "The Big Day". Tap into the happiness and picture how lighthearted and memorable serving gelato to guests will be.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras!

The party of the year, the largest free show on earth, and a day we are all reminded to eat cake.

Mardi Gras is much more than bead clad crowds, parade floats, or masked parties, though those staples provide for a swell time. Mardi Gras, which translates to "Fat Tuesday" is a Christian holiday that dates back thousands of years in order to celebrate the days leading up to the religious season of Lent. Also known as Carnival, the party of the year is a worldwide cultural phenomenon-especially those with large Roman Catholic populations- and is host to famous festivities inclusive of parade floats, beads, and symbolic foods.


King's Cake photo courtesy of LA Times

Mardi Gras allows for the perfect themed party. If it is entirely too last minute (it is today after all, but the sponteneity could be well worth it) to make it to New Orleans, rally your masses and host a party right at home. For basic decor start with the three colors Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power), that mark the Carnival season. A very popular custom is the King's Cake which holds a tiny plastic baby for one lucky attendee to find in their slice of cinnamon filled dough with glazed topping sprinkled with sugar in the aforementioned colors. For the brave, try this authentic King's Cake Recipe, or for the savvy create a personal rendition of the dessert by using single portion cinnamon buns or alternate type of cake served in a sundae glass topped with gelato in carnival colors or King's Cake flavors. Go ahead and wrap those sundae glasses with beaded necklaces (perfect for favors) and use this version as a kid-friendly opportunity to hide a tiny plastic baby for each to find in their single serving. Incorporate a little jazz music, a decorate-your-own mask station, and serve up some cajun for a full blown Carnival soiree.  

Serve this

in something like this!

New Orleans hosts one of the largest gatherings for Mardi Gras, a popular place in the US to travel the last few weeks. Recent attention to the city allowed for many renditions of signature NOLA drinks, particularly this sweetened up version of The Hurricane. Bring a bit of New Orleans to the neighborhood and host a Mardi Gras affair to remember. 

Today is an opportunity to celebrate life with a bunch of glorious food/drink, music, and color required to create an authentic representation of The Cresent City's famous entertainment.

Valentine's Day Celebration!

Ah, the love.   A day for recognizing the adoration, admiration, and appreciation one has for others.   Dating back to an Italian, Saint Valentine, love and the proclamation for all it beholds has varied mildly, however gestures that represent those feelings are always evolving in displays currently through flowers, cards, and most importantly, treats.   More accurately, Valentine’s Day has become a true spotlight for various sweet confections to shine in glory and display love (or self-indulgence if it is that type of year) in the most delicious way.  Regardless of the sentiment wished to express this Valentine’s Day, gelato is the premium sweet to celebrate with. 

Beyond the nod to the Italian lineage of love and our beloved icy creation, gelato transpires decadence in a way no bon-bon can.  The romantic Italian language of gelato flavors, Vaniglia, Cioccolato, alone are enough to impress any date or significant other while ordering, but the smooth texture and freshness of gelato will cap the experience.   Gelato can be used to top homemade desserts or to add an instant upgrade to a traditional chocolate covered strawberries display.  The favorite bon-bon from every other year still can be used chopped as a topping for a special twist on a gelato serving.  Gelato has an added sumptuousness especially to those not used to eating it, bonus points for introducing it to someone for the first time!  A Scoop of Happiness in store or to-go (available in pints and quarts for sharing… or not) will make this Valentine’s Day significantly sweeter.          

Gelato cakes are wonderful for advocating love and admiration this Valentine’s Day.   The gelato cakes can take on any role assumed to them be it to share with the whole family, bring to a school or themed party, or customize to the exact flavor preferences of the person one wishes to honor.   Most would be thoroughly impressed with a cake made from gelato, but the creativity outlet in a gelato cake made to suit personal flavor combinations is unbeatable. The thought behind preparing in advance by ordering a customizable gelato cake is notable.   It is the perfect way to plan to say “I love you” and surely a fun way to enjoy dessert with family and friends. 

Ask Pino Gelato about our specialty cakes!

Gelato represents love, in sharing, in Italian culinary history, and in the presentation it offers this Valentine’s Day.  Gelato in any form and flavor will help to spread love and happiness to all lucky enough to enjoy the sweet Italian treat.  The magnificence surrounding gelato and the people held most important to us pair up this holiday to make for an enchanting celebration.  Gelato = amore. 

Sweet Super Bowl Sunday

America’s sport has transcended over time with glorifying the championship game to include much more than football.  The NFL’s Super Bowl Sunday is just as much about the food and the entertainment as it is about tossing the pig skin making the event enjoyable, all-inclusive, and indulgent.  New Orleans is the host city this year allowing for an amazing influence on food and beverages served at parties across the nation.  While there are certain food staples associated with Super Bowl Sunday, dessert is often overlooked amongst them.  Gelato is a superb way to sweeten up the fare and drink for Super Bowl XLVII.

We have dessert covered this year.  For an impressive yet simple option serve or bring our Pino Gelato custom gelato cake shaped and made to look like a football for guests to ogle over until dessert time.  The cake itself adds instant thematic décor and is a favorite for all ages.  Another convenient option for hosting or attending a party is to bring pints or quarts of various gelato flavors that can be used to top just about any dessert.  An idea would be to have handheld mini pies, cakes, and other assorted favorite treats with a station for guests to self-serve scoops to accompany their selection.  Similarly, the gelato can be used with a coffee bar set up to allow guests to create a pick-me up with espresso or coffee and a variety of after-dinner liqueurs poured over their gelato flavor of choice. The possibilities for gelato and dessert are endless and an ideal fit for wowing people over on food-day/game-day. 

New Orleans lends easy menu selection in terms of drinks this Sunday with an array of drinks representative of The Big Easy.  Gelato can be used to add a fun and sweet flair to the traditional preparation of The Hurricane, rum and tropical juices, topped with a mini-scoop of coconut gelato will provide a sensational presentation.  NOLA is bustling with stands peddling Frozen Daiquiri’s acclimating tourists with the local’s adoration of the sweet concoction. Serve up vodka (or leave it out for a great non-alcoholic option) blended with ice, fresh berries, and a scoop of fruit flavored gelato or sorbetto to do the same for your crowd.  Additionally, Craft beer and the Pimm’s Cup, Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur and lemon-lime soda with a cucumber garnish, are important drinks to the local region but are likely to be gleefully over looked against the gelato infused beverage options.

Eat and drink a bit sweeter this Super Bowl Sunday courtesy of gelato!